Alchin eyes off $40,000 feature

Ace Sydney harness racing trainer Jarrod Alchin is primed to make his presence felt at Tamworth tonight when the club hosts its prestigious TAB Carnival of Cups race meeting.

While the meeting is littered with quality across the eight-race program, the undoubted highlight will be the running of the Group 3 $40,800 Multiquip Golden Guitar Series final.

Alchin is a regular at Tamworth this time of year and again looks set to make his presence felt with three of the leading chances in the Golden Guitar final.

Alchin and his No.1 stable reinsman Cameron Hart dominated last Sunday’s heats, winning three of them while Hunter Valley trainer, Michael Formosa won the remaining two.

Still, he admits that despite his dominance, he will need to have his team firing if he is going to hold the Guitar trophy aloft.

“It is a race we have often attempted to win and have gone very close, so hopefully this year we might be able to break through,” said Alchin.

“Tumby Park, operated by Scott Whitton is one of my stable’s biggest owners and he races two of the three horses I have qualified for the race.

“Scott is originally from the Tamworth area, so he has a burning desire to win this feature race.”

Whitton’s pair, Aqua Sancta and Delightful Dude started at short odds in their heat wins, and both were impressive.

They will battle for favoritism tonight and should be the benchmark.

“Cameron Hart has elected to drive Delightful Dude in the final,” said Alchin.

“This bloke is a talented four-year-old and won his heat quite comfortably.

“We have booked Will Rixon to come up and drive Aqua Sancta.

“He is a top young reinsman and will no doubt give this horse every chance.

“He was also strong in his heat win.

“Both horses have awkward draws to overcome, but their class should take them a long way towards fighting out tonight’s final.”

Alchin’s third runner, Justa Little Bit, has to contend with gate six, but was also strong in winning his qualifier last week and must be considered a realistic chance, according to Alchin.

“I am driving Justa Little Bit myself and I do rate him a solid chance,” he said.

“I am going to have my work cut out finding a spot early but if the breaks come his way, I am confident he will be there at the finish.”

To view the fields for Tamworth click here.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW